Fly swatter



July 2, 1940. H. M. LAKE 2,206,480

FLY SWATTER Filed an. 16, 1939 HMZ/ake- Patented July 2, 1940 PATENT OFFICE ray swn'r'raa 2 Claims.

Thisinventionrelates to fly swatters and has for its object to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive device of this character having .a yieldable pad associated therewith which performs the dual function of a wiper for removing stains from windows, furniture and the like incident to crushing insects thereon and also as aprotective. shield or pad to prevent scratching, denting or "otherwise marring woodwork and other polished surfaces when the swatter is in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fly swatter, the handle anchoring prongs of which are housed between the walls of the yieldable pad thereby to assist in preventing said prongs from cutting through the fabric constituting the body of the swatter and consequently increasing the effective life of said swatter. v

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency as well as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a flyv swatter constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is an edge view thereof,

Figure 3 is a rear view,

Figure 4 is a front elevation with the yieldable pad shown in cross section,

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view illustrating a modified form of the invention, and

Figure '7 is a front elevation, partly in section. illustrating a further modification.

The improved fly swatterforming the subject matter of the present invention comprises a flexible body portion 5 formed of woven fabric or other suitable material and having its marginal edge reinforced by a binding strip 6. The body portion 5 is preferably rectangular in shape and the rear corners of said body portion are folded inwardly and downwardly to form coacting flaps l, the inner edges of which are secured to the main body portion 5 by staples or similar fastening devices 8 passing through the binding strip 6, as best shown in Figure 4 of the drawing.

Associated with the body portion is a handle 9 preferably formed of twisted strands of wire, the inner ends of which are bent laterally to -Harold Lake, Gettysburg, S.-'-Dak. I Application January 16,1939, Serial No. 251,237

(01. 43-137) formdiverglng portions I D terminating in inwardly extending prongs l l, which prongs and diverging portions l extend beneath the flaps 1 so as to securely anchor the handle to said use, I provide a pad 12' preferably formed of a single strip of felt or other thick yieldable material, one portion of which extends transversely across one side of the body portion while another portion thereof is folded inwardly on the other side of said body portion and the confronting edges thereof secured to the body portion by staples or similar fastening devices I3 "which are countersunk in the felt, as shown in Figures and 6. These staples l3 not only serve to secure the pad in position on the rear end of the flexible body portion but as they also extend through the flaps serve to assist in preventing accidental displacement of the flaps I and anchoring prongs II. The pad [2 is tapered in the direction of the handle 9 to conform to the outer edges of the flaps I, and since the staples are countersunk in the felt, the rear portion of the swatter presents a yieldable surface for contact with furniture and the like to prevent marring the same, as previously stated. The pad l2 not only prevents marring of the furniture but also acts as a wiper for removing stains from windows, furniture and the like incident to crushing flies, mosquitoes and other insects thereon before said stains have a chance to dry and discolor the woodwork, it being merely necessary to rub either side of the pad over the surface of the window or woodwork in order to remove the stain. The staples cannot scratch the surface of the glass or woodwork as they are countersunk in the felt and do not make contact with the surface being wiped.

If desired, instead of making the pad l2 of a on the body portion are omitted, and the pad I! is secured directly to the rear edge of the body portion by a line of staples or similar fastening devices I8. In this form of the device,

I the inclined portions IQ of the handle as well as the anchoring prongs 20 thereof are housed between the walls of the pad I! and are retained in position by suitable staples 2|. It will, therefore, be seen that the pad I! shown in Figure 7 of the drawing not only serves to anchor the handle to the body portion of the swatter and prevent marring of the furniture but owing to the yieldable qualities of the pad imparts a greater flexibility to the body portion of the swatter while also retaining its function as a wiper for removing stains and the like. It will, furthermore, be noted that the yieldable pad acts as a protective jacket for the rear end of the body portion so as to prevent the prongs from cutting through the fabric and consequently increases the efiective life of said swatter. If desired, instead of having the parts secured together by staples, said parts may be fastened by stitching or otherwise.

It will, of course, beunderstood that the swatters may be made in different sizes and shapes-and constructed of any suitable material without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A fiy swatter comprising aflexible body portion having one end thereof folded inwardly to form tapered flaps, a handle having anchoring members disposed beneath the flaps, a correspondingly tapered yieldable pad secured to and surrounding the flaps and having its wide end spaced from the other end of the body portion to permit free flexing of said body portion, and fastening devices passing through the pad, flaps and body portion and countersunk with respect to outer surfaces of the pad to permit use of the pad as a cleaning device without scratching a surface being cleaned.

2. A fly swatter comprising a flexible body portion having one end thereof folded inwardly to form tapered flaps, fastening devices securing the fiaps to said body portion, a handle having diverging portions bearing against the fold of the flaps and terminating in inwardly extending anchoring prongs, a pad secured to and surrounding the flaps and having its wide end 

